Song Rig
With or Without You
The Edge · The Joshua Tree · 1987
Tone Overview
What Makes This Sound Unique
Built on the Infinite Guitar's unique sustain — a guitar fitted with an EBow-like electromagnetic sustainer that produces infinite, feedback-free sustain without picking. The tone is warm, bell-like, and utterly unlike any plucked string instrument, allowing the Joshua Tree's signature ringing notes to bloom indefinitely.
Signal Chain
- 1Fender Stratocaster with Sustainer pickup (or Fernandes Sustainer)
- 2Korg SDD-3000 Digital Delay (dotted eighth note)
- 3TC Electronic 2290 Delay (long repeats)
- 4Marshall amplification
Amp Settings
Very clean — the sustainer does not require amp gain to sustain. The delay creates the rhythmic pulse that fills the space between Bono's vocal phrases. Reverb ties the delay trails together into a seamless wash.
Technique
How to Play It
The Infinite Guitar technique — hold the guitar near a sustainer or use a standard EBow, allowing notes to sustain indefinitely without picking. The left hand creates melodic movement by fretting different notes while the sustainer maintains continuous sound.
Budget Alternative
Achievable With
Stratocaster with Fernandes Sustainer pickup (installed modification) or EBow → Strymon El Capistan or Boss DD-8 at dotted eighth → generous reverb. The delay tempo must be set to match song BPM precisely.
Your Gear
Adapt to My Amp
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